Leading African agribusinesses gather in Gqeberha for IBMA 2026

– ADVERTISEMENT –

Hosted in partnership with the African Organisation of Technology in Agriculture (AOTA) in Rwanda, IBMA 2026 will bring together policymakers, researchers, commercial farmers, agribusiness leaders, financiers, and innovators from across Africa and beyond.

This year’s programme places a strong focus on practical, scalable, and commercially viable agricultural models that strengthen food systems while creating jobs, restoring ecosystems, and unlocking export potential.

Farm innovation tour

Delegates will begin the conference on 8 March with an exclusive, hands-on visit to Rosedale Organic Farm in Addo, a leading example of certified organic citrus production for UK, EU, and local markets.

The tour will showcase:

• Water-wise organic farming practices
• Regenerative soil management and biodiversity restoration
• Renewable energy integration
• Export-ready agribusiness systems

The experience is designed to move beyond theory, offering delegates real-world insight into how sustainability and profitability can work together.

A tour to a citrus farm in Kirkwood is also scheduled to take place on the day.

Policy action day

Day two opens with a high-level policy action dialogue focused on African agricultural transformation, trade barriers, climate resilience, access to land, and global market integration.

Confirmed speakers are:

• Kagara Isaac, founder and president of AOTA
• Dr Guillaume Nyagatare, senior lecturer in the School of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Rwanda
• Babalwa Lobishe, executive mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality
• Emmanuel Hategeka, high commissioner of Rwanda to South Africa

A fireside discussion titled ‘Seeds of Change: Unlocking Commercial Farming Potential Across the Continent’ will feature:

• Chanel Minnifield, co-founder of Zen Heart Horsemanship in the US and bestselling author
• Dr Phindile Msomi, group CEO of Hazile Group

Scaling sustainable and biological solutions

The scientific programme highlights commercially focused innovation, including:

• Artificial intelligence-driven sustainable crop protection systems, presented by Rob Elfick, CEO of RBX Group
• The ‘Gardens of Faithfulness’ community agriculture model
• Industrial hemp as a regenerative business model for carbon sequestration, presented by Dr Johan Jacobs, CEO and founder of Hemp Solutions
• Pan-African enterprise scaling discussions bridging innovation, education, and community development

These sessions will address the urgent need to combine technology, finance, and grassroots implementation in African agribusiness.

Funding, research, and global market access

The final day will explore funding pathways and research-commercialisation partnerships under the theme ‘Innovative Funding Models and University Research Partnerships to Connect African Agribusiness Innovation to Global Markets’.

Highlights include:

• A TED talk-style keynote address by Spencer Maxwell, chief operating officer of Heart for Africa, on ‘Farming Hope’, a model integrating food production, education, and poverty alleviation
• Panel discussions featuring African and international experts in agricultural research, finance, and impact enterprise
• A case study on integrating tourism and agriculture for coastal economic growth

The conference will conclude with a flag handover to the IBMA 2027 host country, followed by a press briefing and a formal gala dinner.

Why IBMA 2026 matters

Africa holds 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, yet food insecurity remains a major challenge. IBMA 2026 positions agribusiness not merely as farming but as:

• A driver of export revenue
• A solution to youth unemployment
• A climate-resilience strategy
• A pathway to global food security

For commercial farmers, agro-processors, exporters, financiers, and policy leaders, IBMA 2026 offers a platform for collaboration, partnerships, and actionable strategies.

For more information, visit ibmaconference.org.